Family Corinnidae

This page contains pictures and information about Bug-mimicking Swift
Spiders that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Leg to leg 30mm

We sometimes found this spider on tree trunk with the Gum Tree Shield
Bug nymph. This spider look very similar to the bug nymph. The spider has the black colour body and white markings.
Its pair of front legs has the same colour as the nymph's antenna.
Most interesting is the spiders walk with three pairs of legs only, and wave
its front legs just like antenna.

Gum Tree Shield Bug nymphs

We suspect either the spider mimic the
nymph because they are not eatable (Batesian
Mimicry), or more likely, mimic the nymph to
approach them for prey (aggressive
mimicry). Since the Gum Tree Shield Bug nymphs live together in
group under the gum tree bark. The spider hiding among those nymph is just a
sheep-skin-covered wolf among the sheep.

When disturbed, this spider runs very fast in a short distance and hide. It runs on tree trunk
extremely fast. The spider active during the day.

Females make flat disk-like egg-sac on flat surface, include Acacia
leaf. Also found it nested under loose bark on gum tree trunk.